Three deaths are not fate.

死生本有定數，而非所論於自取。嘗讀孔子之言而爽然矣，曰：「寢處不時，飲食不節，勞佚過度者，疾共殺之；居下位而好干上，嗜慾無厭，求索不止者，刑共殺之；少以犯眾，弱以侮強，忿不量力，兵共殺之。」此三死者非其命也，人自取之。

Life and death originally have a fixed destiny, but this refers to the natural order, not including death caused by one's own actions. I once read a passage by Confucius, and after reading it, I suddenly understood. Confucius said: those who have no regular schedule for their daily activities, no restraint in their diet, and who overindulge in both toil and ease are killed by disease; those who occupy a low position yet enjoy defying superiors, whose desires never cease and who refuse to stop their demands are killed by punishment; those who use a minority to challenge the majority, the weak to oppress the strong, and who act recklessly in anger are killed by weapons. These three kinds of death are not due to their fate, but are instead self-inflicted.

《乾元秘書》內載七曜性情吉凶及所屬陰陽、所屬晝夜，皆於命理無關，故不錄。

The book "Gan Yuan Mi Shu" contains information about the nature, auspiciousness, and inauspiciousness of the Seven Planets, as well as their respective yin and yang attributes and their association with day and night. However, these are unrelated to divination, so they are not included in this book.

《元星變化》云命之主星最嫌洩氣。洩氣之輕，多招災禍；洩氣之重，不免死亡。此說似乎太拘，終於不採。

The "Yuan Star Changes" states that the main star of a person's destiny is most disliked when it loses its energy. If the loss is slight, it often brings misfortunes; if severe, it inevitably leads to death. This statement is too rigid and therefore ultimately not adopted.

《元星變化》云如甲與己合，看合何星，若官祿則得祿，疾厄則多疾。合著恩星，自為有用；合著難星，不無受制。此說亦微有驗，姑以存參。

The Yuan Star Changes also say: For example, if Jia combines with Ji, one should look at which star it combines with and which palace it falls into—combining with the official position palace brings good fortune, combining with the illness palace leads to more illness; combining with the "favor star" is naturally beneficial, while combining with the "difficulty star" inevitably leads to being restricted. This statement has some validity, so it is temporarily recorded for reference.

魁、科、文三星其用不同。《天官經》云：「魁官穿度，早步青雲；魁度逢官，陛廷司諫；官魁拱命，驄馬乘風」是魁主風審無疑，推而廣之，內至兵刑都察院等官，外至督撫按察司等官，皆作魁論。

The stars "Kui Xing," "Ke Ming," and "Wen Xing" each have different uses. The "Tian Guan Jing" says: "When Kui Xing passes through and intersects with Tian Guan, one will rise quickly to the clouds; when Kui Xing meets Tian Guan in its course, one may serve as a court censor; when Tian Guan and Kui Xing surround the destiny, one will rise like a骢 horse riding the wind." This shows that Kui Xing governs discipline and judicial judgment, and there is no doubt about this. Extending this concept, officials within the government such as those in the Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, and the Office of Inspection are considered according to Kui Xing, while officials outside such as governors and provincial censors are also judged by Kui Xing.

文不獨科第然也，總裁、主試、房考、學差，內而司成等，外而教職等，皆以文論。倘不得氣，又微與命主有關，雖老於諸生，亦應有文名科名。升殿朝陽，兼日月拱夾，可以問鼎。天一生水，水作科名更妙。

The "Wen Xing" (literary star) governs not only academic success but also positions such as examiners for the metropolitan examination, provincial examiners, room examiners, and supervisors of educational affairs. Within the imperial academy, officials like the head of the National Academy are considered under Wen Xing, while outside, positions such as county school instructors are also evaluated by this star. If Wen Xing is not well supported, yet there is some connection with the person's destiny, then even if someone dies as a jinshi (scholar), they may still gain literary fame or academic recognition. If Wen Xing is strong, occupying a high position and supported by the sun, and also receives the support of the moon and sun, then one can aspire to the top rank. Since heaven produces water, using the water star for "academic success" is even more effective.

有謂科名與陽隔一度，中第一；隔二度，中第二；隔三度，中第三；隔三度外，尚與日同度，亦可館選。又有謂魁守命坐度，與所立之度數相隔一二三，即以此定廷試之名次。二說皆驗，當參觀而得之。

Some people say that if the "ke ming" (examination rank) is one degree apart from the sun, it will be first place; two degrees apart, second place; three degrees apart, third place; and if it is more than three degrees apart but still within one degree of the sun, it can still be selected as a Hanlin scholar. Others say that the "kui star" (the star of literary excellence) sitting in the degree of the命宫 (destiny palace) and being one, two, or three degrees apart from the degree of the establishment determines the ranking in the palace examination. Both these statements have been verified, and one should consider them together to understand the true meaning.

有壬年人行柳土煞度館選者，查文、日、科、水皆在女躔，則柳度正收科文陽君貴氣，不要概論煞也。又有壬年人行女土煞度館選者，查科水在女躔，日月夾之，則女度正收科名貴氣，又科名頂度，不可概論煞也。

A person born in the year of Ren encountered the seven calamity degree of Liu Xu Tu, yet was selected as a Hanlin scholar. Checking his chart, the literary star, the sun, the examination name, and the water star were all located in the female mansion. Therefore, the Liu degree actually absorbed the auspicious energy of the examination, literature, and the noble image of the sun, and thus could not be universally regarded as a seven calamity. Another person born in the year of Ren encountered the seven calamity degree of the female mansion, yet was also selected as a Hanlin scholar. Checking his chart, the examination name water star was precisely located in the female mansion, and was also between the sun and moon. Therefore, the female mansion actually absorbed the auspicious energy of the examination name, and the examination name was right in this degree, and thus could not be universally regarded as a seven calamity.

有庚年人行奎木煞度居大位掌重權者，查原木與氣照已經合化，天官金與太陽俱在斗躔，則奎木乃天官與太陽貴氣所通故也。有辛年人行婁金煞度館選者，查金即科名，木在陽躔，則即以科名近陽也。總之七煞止忌其混官，既不混官，則另視其氣之所並而已。蓋即一星常在數用，一用亦有不同之理，特因煞而詳載之。

There are also people born in the year of Geng who encounter the seven calamitous degree of Kuí mansion under the wood degree. Yet these individuals hold high positions and wield great power. Checking their charts, the original position shows that the wood star and the Purple Qi are mutually shining, having already transformed the calamitous energy. Moreover, the heavenly official metal star and the sun are together in the Dou mansion, so the wood in Kuí mansion is precisely where the heavenly official and the sun's auspicious energy connect. Therefore, it cannot be considered a calamity. There are also people born in the year of Xin who encounter the seven calamitous degree of Lóu mansion under the metal degree yet are selected into the Hanlin Academy. Checking their charts, metal is for Xin people the sign of academic success, and the wood star is in the same degree as the sun, which is why academic success is close to the sun. In summary, the seven calamitous degree is only to be avoided when mixed with the heavenly official. Since there is no mixing with the heavenly official, one only needs to look at what kind of energy it is combined with. This is exactly the reason mentioned earlier that one star often serves multiple purposes, and even the same use can vary. This is especially emphasized here because it is about the seven calamitous degree.

七年每月行二十一分零，兩個月零二十四日行一度。一年，該四度十七分有奇。二年，該八度三十四分有奇。三年，該十二度五十一分有奇。四年，該十七度八分有奇。五年，該二十一度二十五分有奇。六年，該二十五度四十二分有奇。七年，合計三十度。

Any system that governs seven years has a movement of twenty-one parts per month, with a little more, and after two months and twenty-four days, it completes one degree. Accumulating year by year: the first year totals four degrees and seventeen parts, the second year eight degrees and thirty-four parts, the third year twelve degrees and fifty-one parts, the fourth year seventeen degrees and eight parts, the fifth year twenty-one degrees and twenty-five parts, the sixth year twenty-five degrees and forty-two parts, and by the seventh year, the total is exactly thirty degrees, completing one full cycle.

八年每月行十九分，缺三個月零六日行一度。一年，該三度四十五分。二年，該七度三十分。三年，該十一度十五分。四年，該十五度。五年，該十八度四十五分。六年，該二十二度三十分。七年，該二十六度十五分。八年，合計三十度。

All matters governed by one palace span eight years. Each month advances by nineteen parts. If less than three months and six days pass, one degree is completed. Accumulating year by year: the first year advances three degrees and forty-five parts, the second year seven degrees and thirty parts, the third year eleven degrees and fifteen parts, the fourth year fifteen degrees, the fifth year eighteen degrees and forty-five parts, the sixth year twenty-two degrees and thirty parts, the seventh year twenty-six degrees and fifteen parts, and by the eighth year, the total is exactly thirty degrees, completing one palace.

十一年每月行十三分零，四個月零十二日行一度。一年，該二度四十三分有奇。二年，該五度二十七分有奇。三年，該八度十分有奇。四年，該十度五十四分有奇。五年，該十三度三十八分有奇。六年，該十六度二十一分有奇。七年，該十九度五分有奇。八年，該二十一度四十九分有奇。九年，該二十四度三十二分有奇。十年，該二十七度一十六分有奇。十一年，合計三十度。

Each palace governs a period of eleven years. In each month, it progresses by thirteen parts and a little more. After four months and twelve days, it completes one degree. Accumulating year by year: the first year totals two degrees and forty-three parts, the second year totals five degrees and twenty-seven parts, the third year totals eight degrees and ten parts, the fourth year totals ten degrees and fifty-four parts, the fifth year totals thirteen degrees and thirty-eight parts, the sixth year totals sixteen degrees and twenty-one parts, the seventh year totals nineteen degrees and five parts, the eighth year totals twenty-one degrees and forty-nine parts, the ninth year totals twenty-four degrees and thirty-two parts, the tenth year totals twenty-seven degrees and sixteen parts, and by the eleventh year, the total is exactly thirty degrees, completing one palace.

某宮行幾年，惟七年、八年、十一年尤須逐年扣清，特另開於右。

Each palace's duration is already specified in the section on "Limit Years." Among these, those governing seven years, eight years, and eleven years require particular attention to be calculated year by year, so three separate tables are specially listed above for reference.